Popular Thanksgiving DINNER MEALS IDEAS for 2 to 20
Here are some great Thanksgiving dinner meals ideas AND their recipes. So, these Thanksgiving meal plans cover all areas like light, small, hearty, traditional, & non-traditional themes. Also, it’s a part of our Food Guides and is listed in our Holiday Dinner Suggestions article.
Small & Cozy Thanksgiving Dinner Meals Ideas for 2 to 5 People
Firstly, these are mostly traditional small Thanksgiving dinner meals for 2 to 5 people. They’re still a lot of sides and extras for a great holiday dinner.
TURKEY Idea 1: Cozy Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 2-5
- Turkey
- Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
- Green Bean Casserole
- dinner rolls
- simple lettuce salad
- pecan pie
TURKEY Idea 2: Cozy Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 2-5
- Turkey
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Green Bean Casserole
- Dressing/Stuffing with gravy
- crescent rolls
- cucumber salad
- cheesecake
TURKEY Idea 3: Cozy Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 2-5
- Turkey
- Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
- Dressing/Stuffing
- whole cranberry sauce
- homemade yeast rolls
- cantaloupe salad
- pecan pie
HAM Idea 1: Cozy Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 2-5
- Turkey
- Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
- Green Bean Casserole
- dinner rolls and/or cornbread muffins
- simple lettuce salad
- pecan pie
HAM Idea 2: Cozy Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 2-5
- Ham
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Dressing/Stuffing with gravy
- whole cranberry sauce
- dinner rolls
- cucumber salad
- cheesecake
HAM Idea 3: Cozy Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 2-5
- Ham
- Green Bean Casserole
- Potato Salad
- crescent rolls
- cantaloupe salad
- pecan pie
Lighter Thanksgiving Dinner Meals Ideas for 2-5
Light dinners are usually for a small number of people, although they don’t have to be. Also, this is a good idea if you’re wanting to avoid a heavy holiday meal. So, here are a few lighter meal plans with lots of options. In this case, enjoy for a casual and simpler, lighter holiday dinner. Overall, build your meal based on choices.
LIGHTER Idea 1: TURKEY Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 2-5
- Turkey
- baked potatoes
- asparagus with cherry tomatoes
- whole cranberry sauce
- strawberries & vanilla yogurt
LIGHTER Idea 2: HAM Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 2-5
- Ham
- sweet potatoes
- green beans & carrots
- whole cranberry sauce
- strawberries & vanilla yogurt
LIGHTER Idea 3: SALMON Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 2-5
- Salmon
- saffron rice
- zucchini & yellow squash
- shrimp cocktail
- chocolate covered raisins
Larger Hearty Thanksgiving Dinner Meals Ideas for 6-20
Generally, these are for the more busy, active holiday dinner meals. So, for less guests, go with the smaller count of choices. For example, if you’re having 8 guests, choose 3-4 sides. However, if having about 20 guests, you’ll want to be closer to having 5-6 different sides. So, for more guests, it’s fine to have all kinds of menu items. To summarize, keep reading to see all the options later in the “All Thanksgiving Holiday Recipes …” section.
TURKEY Idea 1: Hearty Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 6-20
- Turkey
- Dressing/Stuffing with Gravy
- Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
- Zucchini & yellow squash
- Green Bean Casserole
- Dinner Yeast Rolls
- Homemade white bread
- Whole cranberry sauce
- Simple lettuce salad
- Cucumber Tomato Salad with Ranch Dressing
- Pecan pie
- Chocolate chip cookies
TURKEY Idea 2: Hearty Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 6-20
- Turkey
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Green Bean Casserole
- Baked macaroni & cheese
- Dressing/Stuffing with Gravy
- Crescent rolls
- Homemade white bread
- Whole cranberry sauce
- Cucumber salad
- Cheesecake
- Strawberries & vanilla yogurt
TURKEY Idea 3: Hearty Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 6-20
- Turkey & Ham
- Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
- Dressing/Stuffing with Gravy
- Asparagus with tomatoes
- Corn on the cob
- Dinner Yeast Rolls
- Whole cranberry sauce
- Cantaloupe salad
- Pecan pie
- Cheesecake
HAM Idea 1: Hearty Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 6-20
- Ham
- Mashed potatoes & gravy
- Green bean casserole
- Cooked Southern cabbage
- Zucchini & yellow squash
- Dinner rolls
- Cornbread muffins
- Simple lettuce salad
- Grapes
- Cauliflower & broccoli salad
- Cheesecake
- Chocolate chip cookies
HAM Idea 2: Hearty Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 6-20
- Ham
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Green Bean Casserole
- Dressing/Stuffing with gravy
- Baked macaroni & cheese
- Dinner yeast rolls
- Crescent rolls
- Whole cranberry sauce
- Cucumber salad
- Pecan Pie
- Cheesecake
HAM Idea 3: Hearty Thanksgiving Dinner Meals for 6-20
- Ham, Turkey, & Salmon
- Sweet Potatoes
- Green Bean Casserole
- Cooked cabbage
- Saffron rice
- Potato Salad
- Crescent rolls
- Cornbread muffins
- Tomato Cucumber Onion Salad
- Cantaloupe salad
- Pecan pie
- Cheesecake
ALL Thanksgiving Holiday Recipes: Customize Your Menu
Thanksgiving Main Course Ideas
Overall, for main courses for 2-5 people, choose 1. Then, for 6-20 people, choose 1-3.
- Turkey (oven roasted), What Size Turkey to Buy
- Ham
- Salmon or More Recipe Ideas for Salmon
- Salmon Patties
- Crab Cakes
- Rotisserie Grilled Chicken
- Ribeye Steak on Grill
Thanksgiving Meal Sides
So, for side dishes for 2-5 people, choose 2-3. Then, for 6-20 people, choose 3-6.
- Sweet Potatoes (good with meat)
- Pecan encrusted sweet potato casserole (also can be served as a dessert)
- Baked potato (good with meat or seafood)
- Green Beans Skillet (good with meat or seafood)
- Whole cranberry sauce (good with meat)
- Asparagus with cherry tomatoes (good with meat or seafood)
- Celery Soup (no cream) (good with meat or seafood)
- Skillet Potatoes & Green Beans (good with meat or seafood)
- Baked macaroni & cheese
- Cooked cabbage (good with ham)
- Corn on the cob (good with meat)
- Green beans & carrots (good with meat or seafood)
- Saffron rice (good with seafood)
- Zucchini & Yellow Squash (good with meat or seafood)
- Sugar snap peas (good with meat or seafood)
- Fried mushrooms and horseradish dipping sauce
Thanksgiving Recipes Salad
So, for salads for 2-5 people, choose 1-2. Otherwise, for 6-20 people, choose 2-3.
- Whole cranberry sauce
- Cucumber Tomato salad
- Tomato Cucumber Onion Salad
- Salad using Romaine lettuce
- Simple lettuce salad with Croutons
- Sliced tomatoes with cheese
- Shrimp cocktail
- Crab salad
- Cauliflower and Broccoli salad
- Deviled eggs
- Carrots & celery sticks with veggie dip
- Cantaloupe salad
- Cantaloupe Cubes
- Watermelon Cubes or Triangles
- Lime Jello salad cream cheese
Bread Ideas for Thanksgiving Dinner
Meanwhile, for breads for 2-5 people, choose 0-1. Then, for 6-20 people, choose 1-2.
- Yeast Dinner Rolls
- Cornbread muffins
- Skillet cornbread
- Garlic crostini
- White bread
- Crescent Rolls
- Italian Bread or French Bread and Seasoned Olive Oil Dip
Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas
So, for desserts for 2-5 people, choose 1-2. Then, for 6-20 people, choose 2-4.
- Pecan Pie
- Cheesecake
- Cookies such as Chocolate chip
- Chocolate-covered raisins
- Strawberries & vanilla yogurt
- Banana pudding with Vanilla wafers
Thanksgiving Appetizer Ideas
Finally, for appetizers for 2-5 people, choose 0-1. Likewise, for 6-20 people, choose 1-3.
- Deviled eggs
- Garlic crostini
- Cheese cubes
- Grapes
- Croutons
- Flat Bread & Hummus with no Tahini
- Crackers with Crab Dip or spinach dip
- Carrots & celery sticks with veggie dip
- Fried mushrooms and horseradish dipping sauce
- Honey roasted nuts such as peanuts, pecans, walnuts
Related Meal or Appetizer Ideas
By all means, see below for some of our best long lists of ideas for other events. In the meantime, check out “Easy Thanksgiving Dinner Menu, Grocery List + Tips“.
Conclusion of Thanksgiving Dinner Meals Ideas
Overall, you can now plan out your options for Thanksgiving dinner meals ideas. Moreover, you can start your list. Also, check out the many recipe links or use your own. Likewise, decide what to make and what to buy. Also, you have an idea of what can be made in advance to save time. Share your meal plan that you are deciding on or have done before. Also, here’s an interesting article about “Thanksgiving Meal Myths Debunked, Facts, & Nutrition“. Then, leave a comment below.